Director of Corporate Affairs and Portfolio Delivery

Penna Executive Search; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The East Midlands Combined County Authority seeks a Director of Corporate Affairs and Portfolio Delivery to lead transformational change in regional governance. This pivotal role requires a strategic leader with proven experience in corporate affairs, capable of influencing at the highest levels while advocating for the East Midlands.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in corporate affairs and communications.
• Extensive leadership experience managing portfolios of programs.
• Ability to operate within complex political environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an integrated Corporate Affairs Strategy.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to secure devolution powers.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Political Engagement

Communication

Job description

Director of Corporate Affairs and Portfolio Delivery

East Midlands Combined County Authority

c.£120,000

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is at the forefront of a new era in regional governance and devolution. Established in March 2024 as England’s first Combined County Authority and following the election of our first Mayor in May, we are setting the pace for transformational leadership and long-term change.

We are seeking an exceptional leader to take on the role of Director of Corporate Affairs and Portfolio Delivery – a position central to building our organisation, delivering on our priorities, and raising the voice of the East Midlands at regional, national and international levels.

As a key member of our senior leadership team and reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you will be responsible for the development and execution of an integrated Corporate Affairs Strategy, covering communications, marketing, media relations, government engagement and public affairs. You will be responsible for shaping how we deliver our programmes and projects, ensuring strategic alignment, governance, and pace of delivery through a robust Portfolio Office. Acting as a key and trusted advisor to the Mayor, Chief Executive, and Members, you will provide insight and leadership on strategic issues, reputational management, and political engagement. You will also chair decision-making boards and collaborate closely with senior stakeholders across government and industry to secure further devolution powers and investment for the region.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic and results-driven leader with a passion for change and the credibility to operate at the highest levels. You will bring proven experience of leading corporate affairs and communications in and/or understanding complex political or governmental environments, with the ability to influence across both Whitehall and Westminster. The successful candidate will also need to have extensive experience in the leadership of a portfolio of programmes and projects, ensuring these functions deliver results in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment. Above all, you will be a passionate advocate for the East Midlands. We were the culture of enterprise during the Industrial Revolution, and we want you to help lead us to be at the centre of the next. You will work to help our unique region be better connected, better funded and better prepared - leading the way to tell a bigger story than ever before.

We embrace a values-based culture, where we lift our region, work together, make an impact, and celebrate our diversity. You will embody these values and foster an open and transparent culture within the organisation and across the partnership. Your leadership will create an environment where every employee can thrive and contribute to the long-term prosperity of the East Midlands region.

This is a rare opportunity to be part of something truly pioneering. If you believe you can lead with purpose, deliver with pace, and represent one of the UK’s most ambitious regions on the national stage – we want to hear from you.

We’re ready… are you?

For further information, please click the link below to download a candidate briefing pack:

Candidate Briefing Pack - Director of Corporate Affairs and Portfolio Delivery

For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact:

Fizza Islam on 07542 855009 or email: [e-mail]

Rachael Morris on 07840 711217 or email: [e-mail]

James Miller on 07701 233159 or email: [e-mail]

Charles Wilson on 07801 880420 or email: [e-mail]

Closing Date: Midnight, 17th July 2025